Louisiana home burns; 3 kids die

Thursday, December 26, 2013

HOUMA, La. - A Christmas Day mobile-home fire killed three children and injured seven others, Louisiana officials said.

District Chief Lance LaMarca of the state fire marshal’s office said a 13-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy died at the Whispering Oaks Trailer Park in Houma.

Their parents and five other children were taken to a Baton Rouge burn unit.

The trailer was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Houma Fire Inspector Mike Millet said.

The children’s father rescued one child but couldn’t get the other three because the fire spread so quickly, Millet said.

LaMarca said possible causes include space heaters, candles, or electrical devices.

Twelve people were in the trailer because the parents and children were visiting from Alabama for Christmas, LaMarca said.

Front Section, Pages 5 on 12/26/2013